Longterm Limnological Monitoring

Principal Investigator: Gary Larson, National Biological Survey, Oregon State University, College of Forestry, Corvallis, OR

Additional investigator(s):David McIntire, Mark Buktenica

Park-assigned Study Id. #: CRLA1993AHDV

Permit Expiration Date: Jan 01, 1998

Permit Start Date: Jan 01, 1998

Study Starting Date: Jan 01, 1993

Study Ending Date: Jan 01, 1993

Study Status: Completed

Activity Type: Other

Subject/Discipline: Other

Objectives: 1. Develop a data base to compare present and future conditions; of the lake.;2. Develop an understanding of lake components and processes.;3. Develop a long-term program for monitoring changes.;4. Determine if the lake has experienced recent changes.;5. If changes detected, identy causes and recommend mitigation; procedures if the changes are related to human activity.

Findings and Status: The lake was a complex and dynamic system with considerable seasonal and annual variability. In general, the Crater Lake ecosystem was extremely responsive and sensitive to environmental change and was judged to be pristene, except for the consequences of fish introductions. Although the possibility of long-term changes in the lake could not be dismissed, researchers regarded such changes to be too subtle for detection over a time scale represented by the available data. The study identified many questions needing further study. Additional studies would refine knowledge of components and dynamic processes of the lake system as well as separate changing lake conditions caused by natural phenomena from those caused by human-related activities.

For this study, were one or more specimens collected and removed from the park but not destroyed during analyses? No

Funding provided this reporting year by NPS: 150000

Funding provided this reporting year by other sources: 0

Full name of college or university: n/a

Annual funding provided by NPS to university or college this reporting year: 0